Longer Class Periods

Opportunities of the Longer Class Period

• Time for a Variety of Activities
• Time to Make Explicit Connections with Homework or Future Steps
• Time for Re-presentation in Different Modes of Instruction
• Time for Guided Practice
• Time to Observe and Assess Students' Demonstrations of Learning
• Time for Student-Based Construction of Meaning
• Time for More Experiential, Process-based, Complex Activities and Assessments
• Time for Authentic Involvement of Students in Framing, Inquiring, Describing, Debriefing, and Evaluating Their Own and Their Peers' Performances and Patterns of Learning

Things to Avoid

• Delivering the same 45-minute lesson and then giving students 10-20 minutes to start their homework
• Doing more of the same: longer lectures, longer discussions
• Holding full-length, single-format lessons unless it fits learning objectives or assessments
• Unconsciously devaluing time because there appears to be more time
• Gravitating towards collaboration without individual assessment and accountability measures for students

Strategies to Consider

• Discussion Models
• Flipping the Classroom
• Formative Assessments & Rubrics
• Guided Practice
• In-Class Note-taking Strategies
• Student Teaching
• Collaboration

Glossary of Terms